New York Criminal Records

NOTE: There are only two resources that offer statewide criminal records in New York. Active cases can be found through the NY State Unified Court System (below). Disposed cases can be ordered from the NYOCA (below). As the State does not transmit this data to anyone else, we cannot offer a statewide New York criminal record search option in our Premium Criminal Records service.

Here are two different ways to do your own search for criminal records or do a background criminal record search in New York. To find the free searches, scroll down the page. If it says “Pay Site,” that means the agency or company asks that you pay for your search.

1) Free searches - listed below. New York provides free access to several criminal record databases. To do your own search we suggest that you start at “Featured Public Records” below and search the New York State Unified Court System WebCrims database for current criminal court filings and calendars in thirteen counties in New York, plus City of Buffalo court records. This database provides current criminal case information, but not disposed cases. Then click on “NY Statewide Inmate Records” to check for evidence of criminal convictions through the New York State Department of Correctional Service. We also recommend the Parolee Lookup service from the New York Division of Parole, statewide registered offender lookup, and PACER U.S. District Court for Federal criminal records (PACER requires registration and a small fee). Scroll down the page and you’ll find free county resources for current criminal cases, inmates, and arrests.

2) New York State Criminal Histories. Use the link below titled “NY Statewide Criminal History Record Search” to do non-certified criminal history searches through the New York State Office of Court Administration (NYOCA) for New York for $65. Included are public records of open and pending cases, and convictions of criminal cases originating from County, Supreme, City, Town and Village courts of all 62 counties. Results are promised within 24 hours. This does not include U.S. Federal Records, so we recommend a PACER search as well. Important: The NYOCA does not allow any other public agency or private company to provide their information online, so if you want to do a full New York criminal history search this is THE resource.

Beyond New York -- If you are interested in a nationwide search, we offer Search Systems State, National, and International Criminal Records. Be advised, a nationwide search will only include two databases from New York – Corrections records from 1990 to 2008 and their registered offender database. Outside of that, it includesover 450 million criminal records from the other 49 states, plus over 70 national and international terrorist, debarred persons, and most wanted databases. The cost per search is $14.95 and results are immediate. See Inside Edition's report on YouTube.